Telephone pay station apparatus



Feb, 25, 193E. G A LONG 2,032,063

TELEPHONE PAY STATION APPARATUS Filed April 4, 1933 Q m Z Patented Feb. 25, 1936 UNTTEE STATES PATENT OFFICE George A. Long, Hartford, Conn., assignor to The Gray Telephone Pay Station Company, Hartford, Conn., a. corpor Application April 4,

8 Claims.

My invention relates to apparatus employed in connection with telephones to denote payment for use of the instruments, and an object of my invention, among others, is to so improve the sounding devices that the sounds will not be unduly prolonged.

One form of a structure embodying my invention and in the construction and use of which the objects herein set out, as well as others, may be attained is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 shows the interior of the coin channel box of a telephone, a portion of the channel plate therein being shown with a single coin channel.

Figure 2 is a side view of said box broken away and showing the coin channel plate in edge view.

Figure 3 is a detail view on enlarged scale illustrating the construction of my improved damper.

Figure 4 is a similar view but looking in a different direction from the point of view of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view in section on a plane denoted by the dotted line l4 of Figure 3.

In telephone apparatus now in common use prepayment for use of the instrument is denoted by sound devices, such as bells, gongs, and the like, the coins in their passage along the channels in a coin channel plate striking the sounding devices and the sounds being conveyed over the circuit to apprise the central ofiice of the prepayment of the fee. An objection exists in such apparatus in that the sounds of the devices are unnecessarily prolonged so that conversation, if immediately begun, is indistinct and this necessitates a wait to permit the sounds of the devices to subside, thereby curtailing valuable time during which conversation may be carried on. Further than this, signals having prolonged sounds if struck first commingle with other signals causing such signals to become indistinct and thereby confusing the operator as to which signals have been sounded to denote the deposit of certain coins, it being observed that the order of the deposit of a number of coins is determined by the user of the telephone instrument. This applies particularly to gongs which are commonly employed in the apparatus.

Various means have been attempted to overcome this objection but in such cases the tone of the signal is changed and this is not desired. By the use of my improved device it is possible to shorten to any desired degree the length of time during which the sounds from a certain bell or gong will continue and at the same time maintain the tone of such sounding device, such imation of Connecticut 1933, Serial No. 664,381

provement being illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which the numeral 1 denotes a portion of a channel plate commonly used in connection with telephone pay stations, such plate having a number of coin channels to direct coins or other prepayment devices to the signals.

The term coin as used throughout this specification will be understood to denote any element or device, as tokens or the like, which are lawfully employed for prepayment purposes.

The plate 1 is supported in a box 8 in which apparatus actuated by the coin and for disposition thereof is contained, this box being of any usual construction. The channels 9 provide devious paths for coins It) which are inserted in slots in the top of the box at the mouth of each channel in a manner that will be readily understood. The coin Ill in its travel along the path, in the structure herein shown, strikes a gong ll commonly formed from resonant material helically disposed, and as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

It is this form of a gong that has heretofore caused the trouble herein explained. In carrying out my purpose a bar [2 is secured to the side of the box 8, said bar having a dove-tail shaped rib !3 to be received in a groove of similar shape in a hub I l. The shank 15 of the gong II is inserted in a hole in the hub l4 and is secured rigidly therein. I also provide a damper which is pressed against the shank of the gong to reduce the vibration, means being provided for varying the pressure of the damper against the shank of the gong whereby pressures of various degrees may be exerted. The damper is preferably composed of a comparatively soft substance such as will absorb the vibrations to a greater or lesser extent.

I have in mind various ways for accomplishing my purpose, that herein shown having proved satisfactory. This damper comprises a finger [6 having a stem I? which is inserted in a hole in the hub M, the stem somewhat tightly fitting the hole but to an extent to enable it to be turned to press the finger against the shank hi, the friction of the stem in the hole, however, being sufficient to hold the finger in any position in which it may be placed to exert pressure against the shank 15. This finger is preferably composed of aluminum.

The damper in fact includes the hub it which may be removably secured in place as by means of a. screw bolt 58. The gong shank is secured in place in the hub, the fingers placed in position and then by means of pliers or otherwise the pressure of each iinger it against the shank of the gong is graduated until the desired length of a damper positioned for contact with said stem;

and means to maintain a variable'degree o fpressure of said damper against said stem;

3. In combination in a telephone, a gong .having a stem, a support in which said stem is secured, a damper composed of comparativelysoft metalpositioned for contact with said stem, and

means to maintain a variable degree of pressure of said damper against said stem. I

4. In combinatio in a telephone, a gong having a stem, a support in which said stem is secured, a damper frictionally held in a hole in saidsupport and. having a projection positioned to contact with said stem, the friction of the damper in said hole being sufficient to maintain any required pressure or the projection against saidstem. c, v

5. In combinationin atelephone, a support, means f r faste in s d sunportin. pla in d telephone, a sounding device secured to said support, m an r l mpin he support Wi h n the telephone case, a damper secured to, said support and positioned for contactrwith said sounding device, sa d damp r being adiusta y' mounted relative to said clamping means to exert a variable pressure against said sounding device and means to maintain a variable degree of pressure of said damper against said sounding device.

6. In combination in a telephone, a support,

means for fastening said support in place in said telephone, a gong having a stem secured to said support, means for clamping the support within the telephone case, a damper secured tosaidsupport and positioned for contact with said gong said damperbeing adjustablymounted relative to said clamping means to exert a variable pressure against said gong, and means to maintain a variable degree of contact of said danper with said gong,

'7. In combination in a telephone, a support, means for fasteningsaid support in place in said telephone, a gong having a stem secured to said support, means for clamping the support within the telephone case, a damper attached to said support and positioned for contact with said st d dam er b in c-cadiu tably m unted c lampi meanstozsert a vaa le e s. ain t said ene and m ansat maintain a variable degree Qpressure -Orsaid d mper a a ns s i s em ..c

8. In combination in a telephone, aesupport;

ain a i e. de ree o p et-reef; sa d dam a ain Said stem- 1 i. A, florid; 

